Cultural policies and measures - Best practices

The long march towards decentralization of culture policies in Europe, 2006/05

Decentralization of culture policies is being observed in Europe. This tendency in cultural matter, initiated since the end of the seventies, fills the need for autonomy on the part of cities, regions, territories and other substate entities. In this text entitled: The long march towards decentralization of culture policies in Europe, Jean-Pierre Saez, Director of the French Observatory of the cultural policies, intends to return on culture decentralization and asks himself the following question: towards what decentralized Europe are we heading today ?

In his answer, the author examines how Europe, through its institutions, has articulated culture decentralization, granting notably to cities, regions and territories more responsibilities and means in matter of culture. However, those decision centers are not able to respond alone to globalization forces and its impacts on the culture sector. In order to face them, States and international organizations intervention on the subject of cultural diversity is essential.